Self-scalable footwear

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a self-scalable casual footwear that allows involve two subsequent footwear sizes, comprising an upper of bi-elastic material ( 1 ) and a mono-elastic ( 2 ), a bi-material outsole ( 3 ) and a mounting insole ( 4 ). Such footwear does not require additional components to fit, such as laces, rubber bands, straps, velcro, zippers, hooks, eyelets or any other that is treated as a resource for the purpose of this invention.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention belongs to the field of footwear engineering, anddescribes a self-scalable casual footwear that allows involve twosubsequent footwear sizes, both on foot length and severalwidths/perimeters and heights that the same foot length can hold withoutthe need for additional components for adjustment, such as laces, rubberbands, straps, velcro, zippers, hooks, eyelets or any other that istreated as a resource for the purpose of this invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The availability of footwear in the market is through not self-scalablefixed numbering, requiring the user understands the dimensions of theirfeet in order to buy a footwear such as length and width measures.Therefore, in a global scale, some markets have besides length thechoice of the width that can vary between three or more measurements,thus generating an increase in both volume and in logistics and storageof these products in stores, consequently requiring larger storage area.In other markets there is available only the choice of the size (lengthof the footwear) with a standard width determined by each manufacturer,so limiting the consumer choice. This way, the proposed footwear aims atovercoming this limitation by providing its users with increased comfortdue to its flexibility.

STATE OF THE ART

There have been presented several solutions/adaptations of footwear inorder to allow the use of two subsequent footwear sizes, but none thatmet so broadly such needs as in the present invention. For example:

The document CN20237514U differs from the present invention because onlythe requisite of width of the footwear is met, the outsole being staticin relation to the length. The present invention meets both the widthand length needs in all of its component parts and is intended for adultfemale public.

The document ES1061431 is not in conflict with the present invention,because it is a product for the children's segment, as the outsoleallows only adjustment in length, the width getting adjustable by avelcro system. Differently, the present invention meets both the widthand length needs in all its component parts.

The document FR1562221A is not in conflict with the present invention,because the adjustment takes place only in the length of the foot and inthe heel region.

The document GB913182A is different from the present invention, since itrefers only to elasticity on the footwear length.

The document U.S. Pat. No. 8,935,861B2 is not in conflict with thepresent invention, as the outsole does not include lengthening the widthof the foot.

The document U.S. Pat. No. 8,938,890B2 differs from the presentinvention, since the described outsole has a manual adjustment in thelength of the footwear and does not include a width sizing. The upperrestricts the lengthening on the instep (midfoot), limiting the area,offering lengthening only in the hindfoot and forefoot region.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has the objective of providing the use of afootwear which allows to involve two subsequent footwear sizes, since,at the same time as different people with the same length of feet mayhave different widths/perimeters, either in the regions of the hindfoot,midfoot and forefoot, the individual himself/herself does not havesymmetry of the members in question.

By associating elastic materials with techniques in the productionprocess and based on numbering anthropometric scale of French point usedin Brazil, that determines the difference in size of each spacing each6.66 millimeters for female footwear, it is assigned the size of afootwear multiplied by 6.66 millimeters, and, for example, size 35corresponds to the length of 233.1 millimeters, considering this theactual measurement of the foot length.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the footwear described in the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 shows the mounting insole, showing the narrower areas (5) asdescribed in the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows the outsole as described in the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows the bi-elastic material of upper, highlighting the threelayers that comprise it: the first and third layer (8) of syntheticknitted fabric and the second layer (9) of latex foam material with SBR;and

FIG. 5 shows a side sectional view of the outsole highlighting the twolayers (6 and 7) that compose it.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a casual footwear that allows involvetwo subsequent footwear sizes, comprising an upper of bi-elasticmaterial (1) and a mono-elastic (2), an outsole of bi-material (3) and amounting insole (4).

The upper, the top part of the footwear, is manufactured with ahi-elastic material (1) and a mono-elastic material (2). The firstensures a lengthening in the vertical and horizontal direction (lengthand width of feet), and is composed of materials having an elasticproperty and divided into three layers: the first and third (8) layersof synthetic knitted fabric with a yarn composition in the range of 83%to 97% of PES (polyester), and is more suitable the composition of 90%PBS and 10% of PUR. The composition of the fabric yarns may be ofsynthetic or natural origin associated with a PUR yarn in the process ofmanufacturing the knitting for interlacing the yarns, thereby securingits elasticity. There also can be used synthetic laminates with abi-elastic property to replace the knitted fabric. The second layer (9)is composed of latex foam material with SBR (styrene butadiene rubber)with 1.3 to 5 mm of thickness and specific gravity of 140 kg/m³ and 350kg/m³, the most suitable thickness and specific gravity being 2 mm and270 kg/m³.

The union between the layers is accomplished with an adhesive film ofthermo-sticky PU, but other adhesives alternatives may also be appliedin the liquid state (when the adhesive is applied at ambient temperaturewithout the need for heat usage to reactivate its properties) or in thesemi-solid/paste state (hot melting, when it is necessary to liquefy itwith a high temperature to activate its stickiness properties).

The mono-elastic material (2) has only lengthening in its width, and iscomposed of a base of PES (polyester) fabric and a PU (polyurethane)coating, and is considered a “laminate fabric” or “synthetic laminate”.It is set in the bi-elastic material (1) by an adhesive film withthermo-sticky PU resin and seams around the edges, it is arranged inthree parts (pieces) that limit the excessive lengthening of thefootwear in the heel area, toecap (front of the footwear) and parts ofthe sides. In areas where it is not fixed, it allows the bi-elasticmaterial (1) to hold the property of the lengthening, allowing thefootwear to fit the size and width of the foot without causing anexcessive pressure (tighten the foot) or a play (the footwear drops outof the foot), allowing for a safe walking.

The mounting insole (4) is developed with a web of 100% of PES, a resinnon-woven fabric with a grammage of between 140 and 500 g/m² and withspecific design, so that, during the manufacturing process ofpositioning the upper in the mold, allows the length accuracy and notleaving the footwear loose or warped, and when gluing/setting theoutsole, the narrower areas (5) are cut and removed to allow thelengthening of the footwear not to be compromised.

The bi-material outsole (3) of TR (thermoplastic) forms two layers, thefirst (7) being soft and elastic with a hardness between 20 and 25 ShoreA, preferably of 22 Shore A and a thickness between 0.9 and 2.0 mm,preferably of 1.5 mm, in the sole of the foot region (forefoot andmidfoot) enabling the lengthening safely, since when reducing thethickness, a low resistance to lengthening occurs and otherwise makerigid the material for lengthening, and a thickness between 8 and 11 mm,preferably of 9 mm, in the heel region (hindfoot), guaranteeing thequality to absorb the impact when walking, without deformation orexcessive rigidity.

The second layer (6), which is in contact with the ground, is soft andresistant to wear (abrasion) with a hardness between 70 and 80 Shore A,preferably of 80 Shore A. The wavy design on its surface enables agreater adherence and ensures the safety when walking, and itsapplication is divided distinctly in the three regions of the foot, morestatically covering the entire area of the hindfoot, without significantsizing, in the midfoot/forefoot divided into fifteen insulated parts andwith distinct shapes enabling the outsole lengthening in the width andlength of the foot and in the forefoot statically occupying part of thetoecap/tip of the footwear without significant sizing.

While the invention has been described widely, it is obvious to thoseskilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be madeseeking design improvements without said changes are not covered by thescope of the invention.

1. Self-scalable footwear characterized in that it comprises abi-elastic material upper (1) and a mono-elastic (2), a bi-materialoutsole in TR (3) and a mounting insole (4).
 2. Self-adjusting footwear,according to claim 1, characterized in that the bi-elastic material (1)of the upper is divided in three layers (8 and 9).
 3. Self-scalablefootwear, according to claim 2, characterized in that the first andthird layers (8) are of synthetic knitted fabric or synthetic laminateswith bi-elastic property with a yarn composition in the range of 83% to97% of PES (polyester), preferably 90% of PES, and 3% to 17% of PUR(elastomeric polyurethane or elastane), preferably 10% of PUR. 4.Self-scalable footwear, according to claim 3, characterized in that thecomposition of the yarns is of synthetic or natural origin associatedwith a PUR yarn.
 5. Self-scalable footwear, according to claim 3,characterized in that synthetic laminates are optionally used with abi-elastic property in replacing the knitted fabric.
 6. Self-scalablefootwear, according to claim 2, characterized in that the layers (8 and9) are joined with an adhesive film with thermo-sticky PU, oralternatively with adhesives in liquid or semi-solid/paste state. 7.Self-scalable footwear, according to claim 2, characterized in that thesecond layer (9) is composed of a latex foam material with SBR (styrenebutadiene rubber) with a thickness of 1.3 to 5 mm, preferably 2 mm, andspecific gravity between 140 kg/m³ and 350 kg/m³, preferably 270 kg/m³.8. Self-scalable footwear, according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe mono-elastic material (2) of the upper is composed of a fabric ofPES (polyester) base and a coating of PU (polyurethane). 9.Self-scalable footwear, according to claim 8, characterized in that themono-elastic material (2) is set in the bi-elastic material (1) by anadhesive film with thermo-sticky PU resin and seams around the edges.10. Self-scalable footwear, according to claim 9, characterized in thatthe mono-elastic material (2) limits the excessive elongation of thefootwear in the heel region, toecap (front of the footwear) and inportions of the sides.
 11. Self-scalable footwear, according to claim 1,characterized in that the mounting insole (4) is developed with a web of100% of PES, a resin non-woven fabric with a grammage of between 140 and500 g/m² and with specific design.
 12. Self-scalable footwear, accordingto claim 1, characterized in that the bi-material outsole (3) forms twolayers (6 and 7).
 13. Self-scalable footwear, according to claim 12,characterized in that the layer (7) is soft and elastic with a hardnessbetween 20 and 25 Shore A, preferably of 22 Shore A, and thicknessbetween 0.9 and 2.0 mm, preferably of 1.5 mm in the sole of the footregion, and a thickness between 8 and 11 mm, preferably of 9 mm in theheel region.
 14. Self-scalable footwear, according to claim 12,characterized in that the layer (6) is soft and resistant to wear(abrasion) with a hardness between 70 and 80 Shore A, preferably of 80Shore A.